COMMERCE BANK ANNOUNCES NEW RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE LENDING OFFICERS

SPRINGFIELD, MO, November 15, 2002 - John Himmel, chairman, Commerce Bank, Springfield Region, today announced that Tony DiTrolio and Suzanne Michael have joined Commerce Bank as Assistant Vice Presidents in the bank's Residential Real Estate Lending division. In their positions, DiTrolio and Michael will be responsible for business development and customer service related to the bank's full line of mortgage loan products including fixed rate, adjustable rate, jumbo, VA, FHA, re-finances and more.

DiTrolio has 17 years of experience in sales and business and, prior to joining Commerce, served as a mortgage lender for the Springfield division of a national mortgage company franchise. A 1984 graduate of Missouri Valley College, Marshall, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Business Administration. Active in the community, DiTrolio is a member of Southeast Rotary Club.

Michael has 12 years of experience in lending and financial services including previously serving as a branch manager with Commerce Bank in Ozark and in Cape Girardeau. She re-joins Commerce Bank's Springfield Region from Cape Girardeau where she was a graduate of Leadership Cape, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce; board member, Community Counseling Center Foundation; and member, Cape West Rotary.

About Commerce Bank
Commerce Bank is the principal subsidiary of Commerce Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSH), a $13.2 billion regional bank holding company. For more than 135 years, Commerce has been meeting the financial services needs of individuals and businesses. Commerce provides a diversified line of financial services, including business and personal banking, wealth management and estate planning and investments through its affiliated companies. Commerce Bancshares operates across three states with more than 340 locations and also has operating subsidiaries involved in mortgage banking, credit related insurance, venture capital and real estate activities.

For more information contact:
Susan Kirkman
Regional Marketing Manager
417 837-5333

Website: www.commercebank.com
e-mail: mymoney@commercebank.com
SYMBOL: CBSH

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